The Detroit Lions got a mixed injury report from Dan Campbell on Wednesday, with DJ Wonnum trending toward a return while D.J. Reed and Cade Mays remain in rough shape heading into Week 10 against the New England Patriots.
Campbell said Wonnum will take part in practice Wednesday afternoon, and if nothing changes, the veteran defender should be available this week for the game against the AFC East team in Germany.
Reed and Mays, though, are looking doubtful at best for the overseas matchup.
There was also a notable update on the offensive line. Campbell said left guard Christian Mahogany will be back with the starters at practice on Wednesday after sitting out against Miami. Mahogany did not log an offensive snap in the Lions’ 19-9 win over the Dolphins after being disciplined for breaking team rules.
Earlier this week on 97.1 The Ticket, Campbell made it clear why the team handled the situation the way it did.
"Look, if you say you’re gonna do something, you better hold up to it, otherwise you’re gonna lose respect of the people around you," said Campbell. "Because if I’m sitting in that seat and I say one thing and then I don’t do it, I would immediately lose respect for that person. So we stick by what we say we’re gonna do here."
Jared Goff also reflected on the offense’s uneven day against Miami after the victory. He said the Dolphins did a good job limiting Detroit early, forcing the Lions to work underneath and making them earn everything.
“I thought defensively, I thought they did a good job against us and played with good depth, made us keep the ball underneath. I thought they rushed really well and tackled really well," said Goff.
"They did a good job, and we certainly had our opportunities to blow it open a little bit earlier than that and didn't take advantage of them. Some self-inflicted wounds, some penalties pre-snap and took us a minute to get going there, obviously, but when we did, did enough to win.”
Goff said the Lions have now found different paths to victory in four straight games, and he pointed to the team’s ability to keep grinding when things aren’t clean.
“It has been six different ways and four in a row now in four different ways, and that’s the hallmark of a good team is when you’re able to find different ways to win repeatedly and just sticking in it. Defense played well, I thought, all day, but I can only speak for us offensively.
Like just one more time, chop wood one more time, chop wood one more time. It doesn’t matter who you’re playing, what their record is, this is NFL and they were giving us all we could handle.
We just kept chopping wood, kept chopping wood and felt good about the way we finished it.”
In Other News...
Dan Campbell Had Lions Fans Cracking Up Before Patriots Clash
Dan Campbell brought a little extra personality to the Lions' week in Munich before the matchup with the Patriots, turning a routine press conference into a reminder of why he remains one of the league's most entertaining coaches. Asked about the trip, Campbell leaned into the setting with a self-aware take on his limited German and even poked fun at his own efforts to pick up a few words along the way.
He also said he planned to try German beer during the visit, which only added to the light tone around a Lions team trying to stay loose while handling the business of an overseas game. Campbell has never been shy about mixing humor with his message, and this stop in Germany gave him another chance to do it in front of a crowd that seemed to enjoy every bit of it. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Head To Germany With Amon-Ra Uncertainty Hanging Over Offense
Amon-Ra St. Browns status has become the biggest offensive question hanging over the Lions as they head to Germany for their latest international stage. The receiver is listed as questionable because of a rib injury, though he did take part in practice on a limited basis and still sounded eager for the chance to play overseas.
Sione Vaki is in a similar spot after being listed as questionable and working in a limited role, while the Lions will be without D.J. Reed, Cade Mays and Kerby Joseph after all three were ruled out and did not travel with the team. For a roster already dealing with uncertainty, the trip adds another layer of intrigue around how Detroit will line up once the game gets underway. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Head To Munich With Key Depth Pieces Suddenly Under Pressure
The trip to Munich comes with a little extra urgency for Detroit, and not just because it is an international stage. With the Lions set to face the Patriots, a few depth pieces suddenly matter a lot more than they did a week ago, starting with cornerback Rakestraw, who is expected to be leaned on in the absence of D.J. Reed. Up front, center Scruggs is in line to start again for Cade Mays, giving the Lions another chance to see how the line holds up with a different look in the middle.
There is also some pressure on the passing game to get more out of wide receiver TeSlaa, who has yet to make much of an impact this season. Detroit needs more from that spot if it wants to keep Jared Goff's passing game moving efficiently, especially against a Patriots defense that will be looking to make the Lions earn every yard. For a team trying to stay sharp on a long road trip, these are the kinds of roles that can quietly shape the outcome. [Read more 🡒]